The leader of the petition drive to put on the ballot a vote of whether or not to approve the City Council's domestic partners ordinance has gained "a flurry of volunteers and signatures," leader Mark West said.
He said Citizens for Government Accountability & Transparency (CGAT) opened its petition headquarters over the weekend "following a busy first several days in their effort to lead the city in collecting 4,500 signatures of Chattanooga registered voters in 14 days."
Mr. West said, "If successful, citizens in Chattanooga will be allowed the opportunity to vote on the city council’s new domestic partners benefit ordinance in August 2014.
CGAT’s petition headquarters office is at 5962 Brainerd Road behind Ankars Hoagies. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 3 - the final day to submit signatures. Chattanooga registered voters can come to the headquarters to sign the petition as well as turn in completed petitions and pick up blank petition forms to gather more signatures for the initiative, he said.
Mr. West, president of CGAT, stated, “We believe that the will of the people was overlooked in the vote to approve extending benefits to girlfriends and boyfriends of city employees. Additionally, the hundreds of city employees whose benefits have been cut recently to 'save' money must be wondering why it’s now okay to extend benefits to an entirely new 'non-employee' class.”
In addition to announcing the headquarters, Mr. West said CGAT just released ads on seven prominent digital billboards in strategic locations around town along with radio spots and Internet ads.
Information about the petition initiative can be found at www.ItsYourVoteTN.com and citizens can contact CGAT at 423 499-1284.
Citizens for Government Accountability & Transparency is a Political Action Committee dedicated to promoting and supporting limited government, fiscal conservatism and free markets by pursuing the values and principles embodied within the U.S. and Tn. Constitutions.